Damn MA Traditionalists!

[Great Sage]

Where I train, there’s a Tai Chi class right before we roll...Last night I got in very early so I decided to converse with a few of the students and their master. They started going off about how Tai Chi is the deadliest kung-fu style out there... And I was like “Whoa..” I got really offended when one person said that his Wing Chun friends had beaten BJJ guys in the past...

That’s when a very heated exchange began. Basically, this entire class was giving me crap that they or their peers had beaten BJJ or some form of grappling. Ofcourse, I knew it was all bogus, but I was getting very ticked off. One idiot even said something like, BJJ uses too many ground techniques to be effective...

I was getting ready to ground and pound some Tai Chi when my instructor arrived and put an end to the whole incident. He told me it was pointless and not good for the training center. I left feeling weird that Tai Chi people felt that they’re techniques were so damn great... Tai Chi... yeah right.

[swan104]

Aren't Tai Chi people meant to be peaceful and mellow?

Don't worry about them. Just ask them for a "friendly contest" to exhange ideas if things heat up.

The "my art is better than your art" arguments will go on forever. No one will ever admit that the style they train in is crap!

[nogard1980]

Ok damn it, I don't now much about tai chi, but am learning wing chung and I don't believe that it makes you invinsable nor do I think that jj makes you invincable. So do I think that it is possible for a wing chun person to beat a jj person. YES. Do I believe that a jj person can beat a wing chun person. YES. In a fight it all comes down to who f's up first and gives the other person an opening and the oponent capitalizes on it. And as far as magic with chi and everything (bull) its not magic just proper breathing and use of incoming and outgoing force (aka phisics).

[terry]

Sage,

Your mistake was that you let 'em get under your skin. I suggest in the future you do the following:

1. Nice them to death and try what the Filipinos call playing 'bobo' or stupid
2. Ask them to show you so that you can fully understand
3. You can extend to them the kindness of returning the favor and helping them to fully understand

It's all in the diplomacy. If you do this right you'll have guys thanking you for knocking them out.

T

[nogard1980]

the only stipulation (once I have more training) I would have for any fight is that we fight outside, not on mats and cusion, thats because I train on concrete.

[Ghost]

Originally posted by Great Sage
Where I train, there’s a Tai Chi class right before we roll...Last night I got in very early so I decided to converse with a few of the students and their master. They started going off about how Tai Chi is the deadliest kung-fu style out there... And I was like “Whoa..” I got really offended when one person said that his Wing Chun friends had beaten BJJ guys in the past...

That’s when a very heated exchange began. Basically, this entire class was giving me crap that they or their peers had beaten BJJ or some form of grappling. Ofcourse, I knew it was all bogus, but I was getting very ticked off. One idiot even said something like, BJJ uses too many ground techniques to be effective...

I was getting ready to ground and pound some Tai Chi when my instructor arrived and put an end to the whole incident. He told me it was pointless and not good for the training center. I left feeling weird that Tai Chi people felt that they’re techniques were so damn great... Tai Chi... yeah right.

I know how you feel. I have had the same experience with people that practice the art i wont mention. They think its th ebest and go on about it, blind devotion.

Thing is not to argue if your instrucot says so. I wouldnt worry about it then. Just let the idiots get on with it. If they cant see it then they arent inteliigent enough to do BJJ.

[chris davis 200]

I study tai chi and i am very sorry to hear that you have such a complete bunch of asses training near you!

Please do not take this as the norm.

Most beginners in any art that i have met love to proclaim there art best with extremely limited knowledge of other arts or their own.

I would say that the best course of action is to smile and say - ok.

Let them live in their fantasy world.

The other course is to say - i would like to have a friendley exchange with one of your student - to the teacher.

Be nice about it, dont stoop to their level, smile and be very polite.

I have challanged people before, sometimes they didnt know they were being challanged, we just ended up rolling.

'please could you show me some (art)' or 'i am interested in the application of (art).'

Both of these approches have worked for me.

Now i normally just say, 'excellent, glad you enjoy what your doing'

These people seem like dip sh!ts, i would not take notice!

cheers
chris

[akja]

Originally posted by Great Sage
Where I train, there’s a Tai Chi class right before we roll...Last night I got in very early so I decided to converse with a few of the students and their master. They started going off about how Tai Chi is the deadliest kung-fu style out there... And I was like “Whoa..” I got really offended when one person said that his Wing Chun friends had beaten BJJ guys in the past...

That’s when a very heated exchange began. Basically, this entire class was giving me crap that they or their peers had beaten BJJ or some form of grappling. Ofcourse, I knew it was all bogus, but I was getting very ticked off. One idiot even said something like, BJJ uses too many ground techniques to be effective...

I was getting ready to ground and pound some Tai Chi when my instructor arrived and put an end to the whole incident. He told me it was pointless and not good for the training center. I left feeling weird that Tai Chi people felt that they’re techniques were so damn great... Tai Chi... yeah right.

Terrys on the money on how to "compose" yourself. But don't discount a whole "group" of Trad. MA's just because of a few sour apples.

Most of us started out in trad. arts and we all evolve at our own pace. when I was a kid it was all Kajukenbo and a kick would beat anything and Judo sucked.

If I would of learned Judo then alongside my Kajukenbo, I know things would have beem differant for my training in the 90's.

Also trad. arts teach a differant aspect of "your" inner strenth that only "you" can unleash. Most MMA instructors today are more like coaches and they can only do so much for you. If you are not champion material, then you will "peak" and probably won't have "an edge" when sparring.

As far as crosstraining for myself. There is always something I'm learning in all ranges, thats my edge, always learning.

So its up to you to figure out how to be the best you can be.

[Benjamin Dover]

Tai Chi...LOL!!! I don't mean to offend anyone but Tai Chi....c'mon. I know it is a feared art....hahahahaha!!! Too deadly to use in a full contact venue. My sides are hurting from laughing too hard.

[Great Sage]

Yeah, you're all right... I should have done what Terry said, but at the moment I was in defense mode... I just needed to vent because it's still on my mind. It was very heated, as I've said.

I don't plan to associate with the Tai Chi group anymore since my instructor made me promise not to challenge or do anything that would stir up controversy at our particular gym... There are numerous other styles that are taught here throughout the day—karate, Tai Chi, boxing, BJJ and cardio stuff...

[platinum_angel]

well from my limited knowledge of tai chi i would think it is for really young people and old people.